UNIVERSITY    OF   CALIFORNIA  AGRICULTURAL     EXPERIMENT     STATION 

.LEGE    OF    AGRICULTURE 
BERKELEY,   CALIFORNIA 


COLLEGE    OF    AGRICULTURE  benj.  ide  wheeler,  president 

THOMAS    FORSYTH    HUNT,    DEAN    AND    DIRECTOR 


CIRCULAR  No.  92 


INFECTIOUS  ABORTION  AND  STERILITY  IN  COWS. 

By  C.  M.  Harikg. 

Every  dairyman  should  heed  the  following  facts  concerning  infecti- 
ous abortion.  Cows  are  liable  to  abortion  from  a  great  variety  of 
causes,  some  of  which,  like  mechanical  injuries  and  poisonings,  are 
purely  individual  to  the  animal  and  show  little  tendency  to  extend  to 
other  members  of  the  herd.  But  every  case  should  be  regarded  as 
infectious  until  proven  otherwise,  arid  should  be  treated  as  recom- 
mended hereafter  in  this  circular.  If  such  procedure  were  generally 
followed  by  dairymen,  the  great  losses  from  this  disease  would  be 
greatly  diminished. 

The  Cause  of  Infectious  Abortion  is  a  germ  called  the  Bacillis  of 
Infectious  Abortion  which  swarms  in  the  tissues  of  aborted  fetuses 
and  in  the  vaginal  discharges  of  infected  cows.  The  germs  are  not 
transmitted  through  the  air,  but  require  more  or  less  direct  contact. 
They  die  quickly  upon  exposure  to  light  and  drying,  but  will  live 
for  weeks  in  the  moist  vaginal  discharges  or  in  the  bodies  of  aborted 
fetuses.  Stable  fed  closely  confined  dairy  cows  are  especially  likely 
to  be  affected,  but  the  infection  may  become  widely  spread  to  range 
animals.  The  introduction  of  the  disease  into  a  previously  clean 
herd  is  followed  by  heavy  losses  from  the  death  of  calves  prema- 
turely born,  and  especially  from  the  decrease  of  milk  production  and 
the  frequency  of  sterility  in  the  cows  that  ''slip  their  calves." 

The  disease  is  propagated  by  the  transfer  to  healthy  cattle  of 
infectious  material  from  the  aborting  cows  in  the  following  manner: 

(1)  By  feed  or  water  which  has  been  contaminated  from  the  vaginal 
discharges  of  infected  cows.  In  this  way  animals  may  contract  the 
disease  as  readily  at  pasture  as  in  the  stable  or  corral.  Healthy  cows 
are  frequently  infected  by  licking  up  infectious  material  from  the 
soiled  flanks  of  infected  cattle. 

(2)  By  close  contact  of  diseased  and  healthy  cattle.  The  infec- 
tious discharges  may  be  transferred  to  the  external  genitals  of  healthy 
cattle  through  the  contact  of  the  switching  tail  of  a  diseased  cow,  or 
by  other  means. 

(3)  The  disease  is  thought  to  be  frequently  transferred  by  the 
male.  Bulls  that  have  covered  affected  cows  seldom  show  a  diseased 
condition  themselves,  but  unless  disinfected,  are  capable  of  trans- 
mitting the  disease  to  susceptible  cows  during  coilion. 

(1) 


—  2  — 

What  Dairymen  with   Infected  Herds   Should  Do   to   Stop   Losses 

From  Abortion. 

(A)  Isolate  at  once  every  cow  that  develops  symptoms  of  approach- 
ing abortion.  These  symptoms  are  rapid  swelling  of  the  udder, 
swollen  vulva,  whitish  discharge  from  the  vulva,  sinking  in  of  the 
ligaments  above  the  base  of  the  tail  in  the  way  that  occurs  in  cows 
about  to  calve  normally.  Infectious  abortion  does  not  often  affect 
the  general  health  of  the  cow,  except  in  cases  where  injury  results 
from  the  retention  in  the  womb  of  a  dead  calf,  or  when  there  is 
failure  to  completely  expel  the  afterbirth.  Infectious  abortion  is  a 
disease  of  the  fetus  and  its  membranes  rather  than  of  the  mother. 

(B)  Whenever  a  cow  aborts  remove  the  fetus,  the  afterbirth  and  all 
discharges,  and  burn  or  bury  them  in  an  isolated  place.  Thoroughly 
cleanse  and  disinfect  the  external  genital  organs,  hindquarters,  hips, 
thighs,  and  tail  with  3  per  cent  compound  solution  of  cresol  (lysol). 
This  is  prepared  by  adding  three  ounces  (six  tablespoonfuls)  of  the 
lysol  to  each  gallon  of  water  used.  Douche  the  womb  with  a  1  per 
cent  solution  of  cresol  (two  tablespoonfuls  to  the  gallon  of  water), 
twice  on  the  day  that  the  afterbirth  is  expelled,  and  daily  thereafter 
until  all  discharge  ceases.  Use  copious  amounts  of  the  douche.  If 
remains  of  the  afterbirth  are  retained  in  the  womb,  an  attempt  should 
be  made  to  remove  them  within  forty-eight  hours  after  the  calf  is 
passed.  This  may  be  facilitated  by  the  injection  of  large  quantities 
of  warm  one  per  cent  compound  cresol  solution.  A  convenient  way 
of  introducing  the  douche  is  through  a  comparatively  stiff  rubber 
tube.  The  liquid  being  passed  into  the  tube  through  a  tin  funnel 
or  from  a  pail  suspended  above  and  back  of  the  cow.  However,  a 
pump  forcing  the  solution  from  a  bucket  through  a  small  hose  is 
more  likely  to  cleanse  the  organs  thoroughly.  Always  place  the 
pump  and  hose  in  a  strong  solution  of  disinfectant  (3  per  cent  com- 
pound solution  of  cresol)  before  using  it  again.  When  all  discharge 
has  ceased,  the  cow  may  be  returned  to  the  herd,  but  so  long  as  the 
tail  becomes  the  least  bit  soiled,  she  should  remain  isolated.  To  be 
on  the  safe  side,  we  recommend  isolation  in  every  case  for  at  least 
thirty  days. 

(C)  The  aborting  cow  should  not  be  bred  for  at  least  ten  weeks. 
If  properly  douched  all  discharges  cease  much  sooner,  but  the  genital 
organs  require  that  length  of  time  to  regain  their  normal  condition. 

(D)  In  order  to  reduce  to  a  minimum  the  possibility  of  a  bull 
transmitting  the  disease,  where  a  separate  bull  can  not  be  kept  for  the 
infected  cows,  thoroughly  cleanse  and  disinfect  the  sheath  of  the  bull 
before  and  after  service.  Clip  the  long  hairs  of  the  prepuce  and 
sheath,  and  thoroughly  wash  the  sheath  with  a  1  per  cent  compound 
cresol  solution  before  and  after  each  service. 

(E)  Disinfect  the  milking  stable  thoroughly  at  least  once  a  month, 
as  directed  in  the  circular  on  disinfection  of  stables.  This  circular 
can  be  obtained  on  application  to  the  Director  of  the  California  Agri- 


—  3  — 

cultural  Experiment  Station,  Berkeley,  California.  Spread  the  ma- 
nure from  the  stable  in  some  field  where  cattle  are  not  pastured. 
Thoroughly  cleanse  and  disinfect  the  external  genital  organs  and 
hind  quarters  of  all  cows  in  the  milking  barn  at  least  once  a  day 
with  3  per  cent  compound  cresol  solution,  but  do  not  inject  into  the 
vaginas  of  the  presumably  pregnant  and  healthy  cows. 

What   Dairymen   with   Healthy   Herds   Should  Do   to   Prevent   the 
Introduction  of  Abortion. 

If  possible  keep  all  newly  purchased  pregnant  animals  isolated 
until  calving  at  which  time  they  should  be  treated  as  recommended 
in  section  (B)  above.  If  a  case  of  abortion  occurs  in  the  herd,  it 
should  be  treated  as  if  it  were  an  infectious  form  of  the  disease. 
Do  not  permit  the  bull  to  serve  animals  not  belonging  to  the  premises. 


REMEDIES  OF  UNCERTAIN  VALUE. 

Contagious  Abortion  Bacillus  Vaccine  is  a  preparation  made  from 
the  germs  of  the  disease,  which  is  now  being  used  extensively,  for 
the  purpose  of  immunizing  the  cows.  The  preparation  has  been  in 
use  such  a  short  time  that  its  value,  if  any,  has  not  yet  been 
demonstrated. 

Carbolic  acid  has  frequently  been  tried  in  various  ways  as  a 
remedy  for  this  disease.  As  a  disinfectant  for  use  about  the  stable, 
or  as  a  douche  for  the  cows,  it  is  inferior  to  the  compound  solution 
of  cresol  recommended  above.  Its  use  in  a  diluted  form  as  a  medi- 
cine to  be  sprinkled  on  the  feed  or  to  be  injected  under  the  skin 
of  the  affected  cow  is  of  questionable  value.  Many  dairymen,  includ- 
ing some  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Stations,  have  used  it 
with  apparently  excellent  success.  On  the  other  hand,  numerous 
breeders  and  investigators  claim  no  success  whatever  with  it.  The 
difficulty  in  obtaining  crucial  evidence  as  to  the  effectiveness  of 
this  or  any  other  remedy  for  this  disease  lies  in  the  fact  that  many 
cows  undoubtedly  acquire  a  measure  of  immunity  after  one  or 
two  attacks. 

Useless  Nostrums. 

There  is  at  present  no  known  specific  remedy  for  infectious  abor- 
tion. Many  of  the  so-called  "cures"  on  the  market  have  as  their 
basis  a  carbolic  acid  solution.  Others  are  absolute  fakes.  The  good 
results  frequently  reported  from  the  use  of  these  can  usually  be 
attributed  to  the  fact  that  the  animals  have  at  the  same  time  been 
subjected   to   a   very   careful   and   continuous   external   disinfection. 

Treatment  for  Sterility. 

To  promote  conception  it  is  advisable  to  irrigate  the  vagina  one 
or  two  hours  before  coition  with  a  solution  of  sodium  bicarbonate. 


Use  two  heaping  tablespoonfuls  of  ordinary  baking  soda  to  the  gallon 
of  lukewarm  water.  Many  cows  that  have  aborted  fail  to  conceive 
because  of  a  diseased  condition  of  the  ovaries  resulting  in  the 
formation  of  cysts  and  small  tumors.  When  such  a  condition  exists 
it  is  advisable  to  attempt  rupture  of  the  cysts  or  squeeze  out  the 
tumors  by  the  pressure  of  the  hands  applied  through  the  walls  of 
the  rectum  or  vagina.  A  qualified  veterinarian  should  be  employed 
to  perform  these  operations. 

Practical  Suggestions. 

Cows  which  have  aborted  one  or  two  times  should  be  disposed  of 
only  if  they  fail  to  conceive  after  a  subsequent  covering,  provided 
they  have  received  suitable  disinfecting  treatment.  By  keeping 
pregnant  animals  the  disease  will  be  brought  to  a  standstill  more 
quickly  than  if  new  susceptible  material  is  continually  added  in  their 
place.  Some  cows  apparently  become  immune  without  aborting.  It 
is  the  history  of  the  disease  in  the  great  majority  of  herds  that  after 
reaching  its  height,  it  gradually  subsides  of  its  own  accord  until  only 
a  few  slips  occur  each  year  or  it  may  disappear  entirely.  In  herds 
where  abortions  have  not  occurred  for  several  years,  or  at  least 
only  rarely,  the  owner  should  take  particular  pains  to  prevent  its 
introduction.  Every  case  of  abortion  should  be  regarded  as  sus- 
picious until  proven  otherwise.  If  a  slip  occurs  the  cow  should  be 
isolated  at  once  and  treated  as  directed  above.  The  portions  of  the 
stall  or  corral  contaminated  by  her  discharge  should  be  disinfected, 
or  if  the  abortion  has  occurred  at  pasture,  the  fetus  and  afterbirth 
should  be  searched  for  and  removed  and  the  infected  spot  of 
ground  where  they  have  lain  should  be  burned  over. 


